Othello's struggles with Iago can be seen as a man wrestling with his darker side, writes Steven Carroll.
One of the most intriguing productions I've seen of Othello was an undergraduate show in which Iago spent much of the play perched on Othello's back. The two got around the stage, whenever they were locked in dialogue, like a twoheaded beast. Not two people, but one.
It is a helpful way of looking at the play. They are individual characters, of course, but they might also be looked upon as a composite character, with Iago cast more or less as Othello's subconscious, symbolic of his insecurities. He is the devil within, the devilish voice that Othello increasingly listens to as he goes down the path of temporary but devastating ins
|
This is only the first few lines of this paper. If you would like to view the entire paper you need to register here.
|
Get Instant Access to 100,000 Essays!!
|
|